I connected my intrface board as per the diagram but I don't get a blinking light. I get a solid red light. What could cause this?

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Question #: 15570

Question: I connected my intrface board as per the diagram but I don't get a blinking light. I get a solid red light. What could cause this?

Current Solution

The Mach3 USB controller will light a solid red light when the controller is properly connected to the computer, and mach3 is in the ready mode (reset pressed to engage the machine). When an arrow key is pressed to move an axis, the red LED will blink rapidly showing there is communication to the controller. If it does not blink rapidly, then check the motor output and confirm that the axes are enabled. Also, confirm you are in jog mode (located in the program run tab). You can also try using the built-in MPG by pressing the TAB key and clicking on the axis letters to move the axes.

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Other Possible Solutions to this Question

I connected my intrface board as per the diagram but I don't get a blinking light. I get a solid red light. What could cause this?
The solid red light is a condition where the Mach3 USB controller is successfully connected to the computer and is communicating to Mach3.
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I connected my intrface board as per the diagram but I don't get a blinking light. I get a solid red light. What could cause this?
The instructions for installing the USB board say there should be a blue LED light up when computer is connected. I get a flashing red LED that goes solid when I start
This is correct if it is the Mach3 USB controller. You will also get a rapid flashing led if you jog the machine (assuming the machine is not in reset mode or e-stop mode).

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Is it suppose to be blue or red? Mine is red.

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The instructions for installing the USB board say there should be a blue LED light up when computer is connected. I get a flashing red LED that goes solid when I start
How do I know if my board for usb is set up correctly. When i do driver test says no driver found. RnR when jogged motion file is in plugins folder. red light is blinking on board but no motion
By USB power do you mean the USB board? or do you mean that it is powered through USB but you have the parallel breakout board?

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I was referring to USB Board. Thanks for responding but that issue was resolve. I noticed that Mach 3 was downloaded twice. I copied and pasted RNR file to second copy of Mach 3 and motor runs properly. Should I remove one copy of Mach3 so there is only one? Seems like that could cause confusion. Thanks

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I was referring to USB Board. Thanks for responding but that issue was resolve. I noticed that Mach 3 was downloaded twice. I copied and pasted RNR file to second copy of Mach 3 and motor runs properly. Should I remove one copy of Mach3 so there is only one? Seems like that could cause confusion. Thanks

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I was referring to USB Board. Thanks for responding but that issue was resolve. I noticed that Mach 3 was downloaded twice. I copied and pasted RNR file to second copy of Mach 3 and motor runs properly. Should I remove one copy of Mach3 so there is only one? Seems like that could cause confusion. Thanks
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How do I know if my board for usb is set up correctly. When i do driver test says no driver found. RnR when jogged motion file is in plugins folder. red light is blinking on board but no motion
How do I know if my board for usb is set up correctly. When i do driver test says no driver found. RnR when jogged motion file is in plugins folder. red light is blinking on board but no motion
By USB power do you mean the USB board? or do you mean that it is powered through USB but you have the parallel breakout board?

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I was referring to USB Board. Thanks for responding but that issue was resolve. I noticed that Mach 3 was downloaded twice. I copied and pasted RNR file to second copy of Mach 3 and motor runs properly. Should I remove one copy of Mach3 so there is only one? Seems like that could cause confusion. Thanks

Additional Information:
I was referring to USB Board. Thanks for responding but that issue was resolve. I noticed that Mach 3 was downloaded twice. I copied and pasted RNR file to second copy of Mach 3 and motor runs properly. Should I remove one copy of Mach3 so there is only one? Seems like that could cause confusion. Thanks

Additional Information:
I was referring to USB Board. Thanks for responding but that issue was resolve. I noticed that Mach 3 was downloaded twice. I copied and pasted RNR file to second copy of Mach 3 and motor runs properly. Should I remove one copy of Mach3 so there is only one? Seems like that could cause confusion. Thanks
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How do I know if my board for usb is set up correctly. When i do driver test says no driver found. RnR when jogged motion file is in plugins folder. red light is blinking on board but no motion
I am using 5 limit switches on my 3 axis machine. I am using the usb controller for planet cnc. I would like to know where all the wires related to the limit switches get connected? A diagram would be helpful.
The diagram for wiring the USB interface board is located here: https://buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-USB-Controller-Breakout#prettyPhoto/2/

Under the board illustration, there are three smaller diagrams of limit switch wiring. On each, there are two connections, the GND and the pin which are labeled at the ends of the circuit on the diagrams. The pin side would go to the axis label ++ or -- terminal (i.e. X++, or X--). The other end, labeled GND would connect to any ground terminal on the board.
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I am using 5 limit switches on my 3 axis machine. I am using the usb controller for planet cnc. I would like to know where all the wires related to the limit switches get connected? A diagram would be helpful.
I connected 5Vdc power to the alternet connector of the USB Breakoutboard with the proper jumper setting and the board fried. What did I do wrong?
Can you test the output of the 5V DC adapter to check the output voltage?

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The 5VDC voltage was generated by a PC ATX power supply and was measured (5.0VDC) just before connecting it to the controller PCB. I also verified polarity prior to powering up.

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Please call us to initiate a replacement of the USB interface. We would also like the existing USB interface to be return so that we can investigate the cause of this failure.

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I connected 5Vdc power to the alternet connector of the USB Breakoutboard with the proper jumper setting and the board fried. What did I do wrong?
I have your breakout board with relay parallel port , I have a vacuum, light on router and air pump I want to also hook up to board, can I hook those up to board and also could I had reylays to each one, what is the best way to figure this out any information would be great. Thanks
Here is how to connect your router to the parallel breakout board through the on-board relay. You will need a spare extension cord. You will need to remove a portion of the outer jacket of the extension cord to expose the white, black and green wires (white = neutral, black = live and green = ground), understanding that the neutral and live create the completed circuit.

See this image of a similar connection. The terminal has the same connections.
https://www.buildyourcnc.com/images/vacuum-pressure-controller-relay-terminals-700.JPG

Image of the relay terminal:
https://www.buildyourcnc.com/images/breakoutboardrelayNONC.PNG

The live/black wire would be cut and one end of the cut would be secured into the P terminal and the other cut end would be secured into the S terminal. The live and ground wire would be uncut and travel from the plug to the router.

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You can also connect other high powered devices to the breakout board using any of the output terminals. You will need to supply extra relays like the one shown here:
https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-breakout-Relays-relay-board-250V-12A-5V

Or you can find SSRs (Solid State Relays) that will accept 5v to drive the relay coil. Make sure the SSR will protect the 5V line from Back EMF as there is a coil in the relay. The one we sell contains a fly-back diode to protect the 5v terminal.
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I have your breakout board with relay parallel port , I have a vacuum, light on router and air pump I want to also hook up to board, can I hook those up to board and also could I had reylays to each one, what is the best way to figure this out any information would be great. Thanks
On the blacktooth machine wiring diagram for parallel breakout a wire goes from 6 on the BOB to TL on the laser power supply. My power supply has an"H" followed by a "L". Which is correct? I've connected to the "L" but the laser appears always on.
The digital signal portion of the CO2 laser tube power supply has various terminals for signal power, signal gnd, laser intensity and engaging the laser (turning it on or off). The TL and TH are triggers to turn the laser power on or off. These may be labeled L or H on some laser power supplies. You can use either TL/L, or TH/H to control the laser.

If you use the TL or L terminal to control the laser:
If a low signal (gnd) is present at that terminal, the laser will turn on. If a high signal (5v) is present, the laser will turn off.

If you use the TH or H terminal to control the laser:
If a high signal (5v) is present at that terminal, the laser will turn on. If a low signal (gnd) is present, the laser will turn off.

You should first test the control signal from the interface with a multimeter to make sure the laser will be controlled correctly before powering the laser power supply
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On the blacktooth machine wiring diagram for parallel breakout a wire goes from 6 on the BOB to TL on the laser power supply. My power supply has an"H" followed by a "L". Which is correct? I've connected to the "L" but the laser appears always on.
[575] I cant get a 5v signal on any of the Outputs on the board. what Port# and Pin #s should I be using on Mach3?
The Mach3 USB controller does not provide 5V output signals. The Inputs, Outputs, and PWM Spindle Speed terminals are separated from the 5V side of the board. The output terminals use the 24V portion of the controller and you will need a 24V power supply to make these outputs work.

Please watch the video below to completely understand how the outputs of this controller work. Make sure that you are using the RNRmotion.dll plugin and that the port for each of the outputs is set to port 3.
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[575] I cant get a 5v signal on any of the Outputs on the board. what Port# and Pin #s should I be using on Mach3?
I AM USING USB BREAKOUT BOARD WITH PLANET-CNC SOFTWARE. WHEN ENABLE JOGGING KEYBOARD X AXIS STARTS TO MOVE BY ITSELF (WHETHER CONNECTED OF NOT). PRESS STOP - IT STOPS FOR A MOMENT AND THEN AGAIN. WHAT COULD THAT BE? TRIED REINSTALL SOFTWARE DID NOT HELP.
It seems to be getting some kind of interference or a short within the wiring or communication, try jogging the motors in the software without anything wired to the board. Then add one motor at a time to see if there is a short within your wiring or a faulty driver/motor.
If the USB breakout board continues to move the x-axis with no motors or driver wired to it, please email customerservice@buildyourcnc.com for a replacement or further troubleshooting.
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I AM USING USB BREAKOUT BOARD WITH PLANET-CNC SOFTWARE. WHEN ENABLE JOGGING KEYBOARD X AXIS STARTS TO MOVE BY ITSELF (WHETHER CONNECTED OF NOT). PRESS STOP - IT STOPS FOR A MOMENT AND THEN AGAIN. WHAT COULD THAT BE? TRIED REINSTALL SOFTWARE DID NOT HELP.
The motherboard on the computer I bought from you went out. What would you suggest. I have a laptop, could I use it and use a Mach3 USB interface board?
Yes, you can use a laptop if you have a controller that uses a USB, like the Mach3 USB card. If you don't have that, you can purchase that part here:
https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-breakout-Mach3-USB-Board

If you have a controller board that connects to a 25 pin connector, modern laptops will not be able to connect to that port.

How old is your CNC computer system?

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The CNC computer system is 2013 (5 years). The built in video card went out. I will order the Mach3 USB card. Thank you.

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You're welcome
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The motherboard on the computer I bought from you went out. What would you suggest. I have a laptop, could I use it and use a Mach3 USB interface board?
The tube is illuminated but I don't get clear firing to the piece. This is a rastering work and I get faint results and then it will be fine, then nothing. Tube changes from pink to solid line purple even when vectoring or manually holding the fire button.
If your laser machine needs to reflect off of three mirrors before it finally passes the focal lens, then I would recommend realigning the laser.

You might also want to see if the nozzle is hot. If so, then the laser energy is hitting some of the nozzle body and not all of the laser energy is exiting the small aperture of the nozzle. To determine if this is the cause, remove the nozzle and try the operation again to see if you have better results. If the results are better with the nozzle off, then realign the mirrors. If you are still having difficulty getting the laser energy to exit the nozzle, increase the diameter of the nozzle aperture.

If you are still having poor results, take a look at the focal lens and the mirrors for any debris. An unclean lens and mirrors are a common cause of poor lasing performance.
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The tube is illuminated but I don't get clear firing to the piece. This is a rastering work and I get faint results and then it will be fine, then nothing. Tube changes from pink to solid line purple even when vectoring or manually holding the fire button.
I connected the electronics (for 2 x 4 feet) that I ordered from you. But how do I check if I connected all the wiring properly. There is neither any light on motor drivers nor on breakout board. And the motor shaft also does not move before and after the power supply is given.
Did you connect the USB connector to the breakout board?

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YES I CONNECTED THE USB TO THE BREAKOUT BOARD
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I connected the electronics (for 2 x 4 feet) that I ordered from you. But how do I check if I connected all the wiring properly. There is neither any light on motor drivers nor on breakout board. And the motor shaft also does not move before and after the power supply is given.
Is there a wiring diagram for hooking up your hex inverter between your USB breakout board and the controller?
The use of the hex inverter in the application to invert a direction signal to have a motor run in the reverse directions is relatively simple.

First, go to this link and look at the chip diagram:
https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-hex-inverter-breakout-newbiehack-integrated_circuits-hex-inverter

Connect 5V from the USB interface tothe VCC pin. The pin on the keyboard jog header can be used. Connect the GND pin from the USB interface to the GND pin on the hex inverter. Connect the CW terminal from the USB interface to the 1A pin on the hex inverter. Connect the 1Y pin from the hex inverter to the driver.

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I got a question??? I am a dummy when it comes to cnc. I got 6040 1500kw water cold engraver 3 axis from china. I can not get anything out of them pertaining help they keep telling me the same thing over and over and over and I'm doing it and send them pictures that I know. Anyway email me a wiring diagram for the PRT 1500 watt spindle motor control box and has the emergency stop on and off switch manual PC and of course yhe screanm fultonsbusiness@gmail.com

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I got a question??? I am a dummy when it comes to cnc. I got 6040 1500kw water cold engraver 3 axis from china. I can not get anything out of them pertaining help they keep telling me the same thing over and over and over and I'm doing it and send them pictures that I know. Anyway email me a wiring diagram for the PRT 1500 watt spindle motor control box and has the emergency stop on and off switch manual PC and of course yhe screanm fultonsbusiness@gmail.com
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Is there a wiring diagram for hooking up your hex inverter between your USB breakout board and the controller?
[575] I connected this to 24v power supply and only out3 will show 24v when activated the other 3 read 300+v whether activated or not
Make sure that the spindle motor output pin is not interfering with the signal. Go to config -> ports and pins -> motor outputs, at the bottom of the table, there will be a line for spindle. Make sure that spindle line item is disabled.

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I disabled the spindle port and I am still only able to activate port 3 and get 24v and even there when I enter m5 the voltage bounces all over the place. The other outputs read all over the place whether they have been designated as the spindle on the spindle settings tab

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I tried wiring a relay to each of the outputs and only out3 was able to activate the relay
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[575] I connected this to 24v power supply and only out3 will show 24v when activated the other 3 read 300+v whether activated or not
If I build a Laser with the components on this site, can I cut the 0.1mm and 0.2mm board? Is it cut in optimal conditions, or if not what you recommend ?!
What material is the 0.1mm and 0.2mm board?

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Steel sheet

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Steel Sheet

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Thanks for the response. CO2 lasers unfortunately cannot cut metallic materials. Metals are best cut with other types of lasers, or by using oxygen assist. The oxygen assist method is not encourages as the combination or CO2 laser and oxygen is very volatile.

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and I can not do this laser to cut the steel plate, but instead of the CO2 tube I put the oxygen tube, or do not I know ?! Do I have a chance in the products on the site to create a laser for 0.1mm and 0.2mm steel sheets?

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I can help with an answer, Thanks!

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I can help with an answer, Thanks!

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Can you help me with an answer? Thank you! **
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If I build a Laser with the components on this site, can I cut the 0.1mm and 0.2mm board? Is it cut in optimal conditions, or if not what you recommend ?!
Have you heard of the requirement to cut the Reset Enable trace on the Aruduino Mega for a Makerbot Thing-o-matic? Does this apply to the whiteAnt 3d printer? The trace on my Arduino board is definitely connected and I am experiencing issues with connectivity. Please advise.
I have not hear of this. This cold be an issue with using later firmware, but I have not come across having to cut the trace for the reset enable on the Arduino board.
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Have you heard of the requirement to cut the Reset Enable trace on the Aruduino Mega for a Makerbot Thing-o-matic? Does this apply to the whiteAnt 3d printer? The trace on my Arduino board is definitely connected and I am experiencing issues with connectivity. Please advise.
I purchased a brealout board a couple days ago and it does not show under my account as being purchased, the cash was drawn from me. I assumed I could look and see it in my account and get a tracking number when it is shipped
Send me an email so I can confirm the purchase. customerservice@gmail.com
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I purchased a brealout board a couple days ago and it does not show under my account as being purchased, the cash was drawn from me. I assumed I could look and see it in my account and get a tracking number when it is shipped
The electronics package I just bought from you (Book Build) is different from your wireing diagrams and video tutorials. Is there an updated wiring diagram available? Is the USB port on the breakout board connected directly to the computer USB to supply 5 volts? Thank you.
For our parallel breakout board (https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-parallel-breakout-relay#prettyPhoto/2/) the schematic will show the connections going from the BB to the drivers. The parallel breakout board uses the 25 pin parallel connection to communicate from the computer to drivers, and the USB is used to power the main-board itself, supplying 5V.

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The electronics package I just bought from you (Book Build) is different from your wireing diagrams and video tutorials. Is there an updated wiring diagram available? Is the USB port on the breakout board connected directly to the computer USB to supply 5 volts? Thank you.